James T. Dunbar and Others to Stephen F. Austin, 12-13-1821

Summary: Want information particularly about government and religious toleration in Texas.

Having seen an extract of your letter on grants of land in the
Morning Chronicle of the city, and view the subject of great
importance we are induced to obtrude on your notice, by addressing
you a few lines.

The liberal proffers of land in the Province of the Texas which
you are authorized to hold out to adventurers have attracted our
attention and raised an earnest solicitude to become more
particularly acquainted than we have yet been or perhaps can expect to be,
through the medium of the public prints, on that subject. It is our
confident expectation, if the expense of getting to that country with
a family could be pretty nearly estimated, and if the character of
the government which shall immediately on our arrival direct us,
and of that which may at some short time subsequent be therein
established [should be satisfactory], that a large company might
soon be made up, provided that information on these points should
be such as to authorize our transition thither. No feature in any
government could be more abhorrent to men born in the land of
liberty,—and matured in the arms of universal toleration, than
religious restraint. The idea of an established church of any
particular creed would forever banish from our minds the design of
leaving our natal soil. The consideration of toleration in Religion,
and the assurance that this will form one of the prominent and
auspicious features of the constitution will remove a thousand
obstacles from the execution of our designs. The prospect of
undisputed and permanent titles to land, and of quiet and peaceful
regulations in the Province must also be powerful incitements to
emigrants. The writers are aware that many difficulties and
embarrassments must attend undertakings of this nature, and therefore it will
occur to you, Sir, that it must be greatly desirable to the emigrant
to obtain all the information possible on the subject, that he may
be the better prepared to encounter impediments, and to overcome
opposition; and as there can be no source from which we can expect
so full, accurate, and satisfactory information as from him whom
makes these liberal proffers, we hope you will find in this our apology
for troubling you, and that you will assent to give us a clear and
candid statement in reply to this our humble letter.